A new report suggests promotion hopefuls Bournemouth are set to make a big decision on selling ideal star Lloyd Kelly to West Ham.
It is no secret that West Ham are looking to sign a centre-back in the January window after losing Angelo Ogbonna for the season and Kurt Zouma until at least February.
West Ham United boss David Moyes has been linked with a number of potential signings including Man City’s Nathan Ake, Burnley’s James Tarkowski, Liverpool’s Nat Phillips and Bournemouth star Lloyd Kelly.
According to a report from the Telegraph, 23-year-old Cherries defender Kelly is firmly on the Hammers’ radar ahead of the January window opening this weekend.
Kelly has impressed in the Championship so far this season having joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in the summer of 2019 for a fee that could eventually rise to around £20 million (Daily Mail).
In 19 Championship outings for Bournemouth so far this season, Kelly has averaged one interception and 4.9 clearances per game. He’s also won an average of 3.1 aerial duels per match (WhoScored).
The 23-year-old has made 71.3 passes per game on average with a completion rate of 83.5% (WhoScored). He has also captained the side on a number of occasions.
So he clearly has huge potential and certainly fits West Ham’s recruitment policy under Moyes of targeting young, athletic players – often from the second tier – hungry to prove themselves in the top flight.
Given the Cherries are pushing for promotion, selling Kelly could be a big risk.
Report suggests Bournemouth are set to make big decision on selling ideal star Lloyd Kelly to West Ham in January window
But according to Football League World, the south coast club are weighing up the pros and cons of a potential deal with West Ham before making a firm decision over whether to sell Kelly in the near future.
“With just Craig Dawson and Issa Diop being the Hammers’ only fit centre-backs right now thanks to long-term injuries to Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna, Kelly would immediately head to the London Stadium and challenge for a starting berth,” Football League World reports.
“So in that sense it would be a good move and David Moyes isn’t afraid to give younger, less experienced players a go – with just eight Premier League appearances to his name you could say that Kelly still is slightly inexperienced.
“When Zouma is fit again then Kelly may struggle to start if he doesn’t make an immediate impact but Moyes has proven to rotate his defensive options due to the European fixtures as well so if it’s game-time he wants, Kelly would get that.
“Kelly wouldn’t be guaranteed to start right away, but he’s got age on his side compared to Dawson and unlike West Ham’s other fit defenders, Kelly is left-footed.
“So that means he may be more likely to get starts because he could provide a lot of balance in the defence – and if Moyes wants to play with three defenders then the 23-year-old would almost surely be starting matches.”
With the January window opening this weekend, West Ham and Bournemouth fans will not have to wait too long to find out what the Hammers and Cherries decide to do.